I hope you enjoy these! If any of you have any suggestions for more homemade seasoning/spice recipes, please feel free to share! Always looking for more!
Friday, April 29, 2011
Homemade Spice/Seasoning Mixes
One way that I've found to save money and be a little healthier is to make my own homemade seasoning mixes. Here are links to some of my favorites.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
$5.00 Taste of Home Cookbooks
Don't miss this great deal! Go here to get Taste of Home Cookbooks for only $5.00! This would make a great Mother's Day Gift!
More Than One Way to Give
One of the hardest things I have had to deal with during our financial struggle has been our inability to give as much as we used to! There are so many good causes and missionaries etc. that my heart is with that I would like to support financially, but we just can't right now! It has really weighed heavy on my heart!
Last week a friend reminded me that there are many other ways to give and support people other than with our finances! Right now we are unable to give above and beyond with our money, but we are able to give with our hearts! We can help with a word of encouragement, we can help by rolling up our sleeves and getting our hands dirty, and most importantly, we can offer our prayers for those people!
Thinking maybe God is wanting me to be thinking outside the box a little more! During tough times, we begin to look at every area of our lives and reevaluate what things are important and how we can do some things differently! I am believing that God is using this time in my life to give me a different perspective on many things!
I am sure that some of you are probably struggling with this same issue! So, I encourage you to look further than people's monetary needs and look at the needs of their heart! Ask God to reveal creative ways that you can "give" despite your struggle to give as much financially as you would like to. If you ask, you will be amazed at the opportunities He will bring you!
Friday, April 22, 2011
Time of Preparation
We are studying David in our Sunday School class right now. A few months ago, we were studying the story of David and Goliath, and our teacher made the comment that after killing a lion and a bear with a stone, that killing Goliath probably seemed easy!
As he said that, it hit me that David's time out there all alone watching the sheep prepared him perfectly for this battle with Goliath! How many times do you think David might have felt that his job of protecting his father's sheep was so much less important than his brothers' job of protecting Israel? He probably thought that God wasn't using him! But, God had him doing exactly what he needed to be doing to prepare him for the task God had for him! No one stood a chance against Goliath in a traditional fight, but because David had spent so much time alone with God, he had an unshakeable faith! He had worked hard at protecting his father's sheep, even though it didn't seem like an important job, and so he was better than anyone else with a slingshot! That was the exact combination that God needed at that moment! There could've been completely different results if David would've just pouted and not done his best at watching his father's sheep and not spent that time alone with God!
I'm sure that some of you right now are feeling like God isn't using you! You look around and you see others in the forefront of ministry and you wish God could use you that way! I'll be honest, I've been there! Well, let me encourage you to take this time to be pressing in and spending time with God! To be seeking His heart! As you hear from Him, be obedient no matter how small the task might seem! I'm guessing that this is your time of preparation and who knows what God might have for you some day! If you don't make the most of this time of preparation, you might not be ready when that time comes!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Friends
Well, today God really reminded me of the importance of friends! They are so important! We as women especially, need to have those friends that we can share our hearts with! Our losses and our victories! To have someone we know will walk beside us no matter what we are going through! Someone who will cry with us, laugh with us, celebrate with us and go to battle for us! Someone who will love us no matter what! Today I am thankful that I can say I do have friends like that! Having a friend or friends like this is a rare and precious gift! So, if you have a friend like this let them know you appreciate them and love them!
Lemon Meringue Cake
Check out this recipe at Lynn's Kitchen Adventures. It looks so good! I'm going to be trying it!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Insecurity........it stinks!
One of my biggest weaknesses is insecurity! The enemy uses it so much in my life! He makes me doubt myself and keeps me from doing things because I don't feel good enough, or I'm afraid I might fail! I'm afraid of what others will think of me!
Today I was struggling with feelings of insecurity and having a little pity party for myself! In the midst of this, God made me realize that feeling insecure is not only doubting myself, it's doubting Him!
He doesn't ask me to have it all together or have all the abilities it takes to accomplish something. He simply asks me to obey and He takes care of the rest! It isn't always for me to understand why or how, just obey!
So, if God has been laying something on your heart, but you've been doubting yourself (and ultimately Him), I challenge you to step out in faith and obey!
I would also appreciate your prayers for me as I try to allow God to help me overcome insecurity in my life! It's one of those ongoing battles! I have to surrender it over and over!
Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me) - Casting Crowns
I love this song! Thought it appropriate to share this week! Music speaks to me!
Duncan Hines Brownie Coupon
You can print a $.50 off Duncan Hines Brownie Mix coupon. If you go to Giant or Weis or any other store that doubles coupons, you should be able to get a great deal!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
A Place of Refreshing Springs
I was reading my Bible this morning in Psalms 84, and what I read really challenged me.
Psalm 84: 5-7 (NLT)
5. What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord,
who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
6. When they walk through the Valley of Weeping,
it will become a place of refreshing springs.
The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.
7. They will continue to grow stronger and each of them
will appear before God in Jerusalem.
Wow! Am I keeping my eyes focused on my final destination or am I taking my eyes off of Christ and focusing on my difficult situation at that time? Not only will God's strength allow me to get through these difficult times, they will become a "place of refreshing springs". It should be a time when I am growing, when I am allowing the Holy Spirit to refresh me and reveal new things to me!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Free Ebook
Why am I blogging?
Honestly, I am blogging because the Lord laid it on my heart to do so. He placed it on my heart a while ago and I brushed it aside, feeling too busy and overwhelmed to do one more thing. How did I have time to blog?
Well, more recently I have been praying about what the Lord wants me to be doing. We have a lot of decisions we need to make right now. Should I homeschool the girls again next year? Should I send them back so I can get a job and alleviate some of the financial stress we've been under? Is there something I can do from home to generate extra income? Where does God want to use me in ministry? Who can I influence? Etc. Etc.!!
As I was praying, asking the Lord what He wanted me to be doing (at the time thinking of generating income) I really felt Him lay blogging on my heart. He began to give me ideas of what I could blog about etc. At first I started to get excited and brainstorm about what I could do.
Well, that only lasted for a short while, because then I began to think that this wasn't what I was praying for. First of all, I need something to help pay our bills not take more of my time! I'm already busy enough. On top of that, why would I blog?? Who would want to listen to what I have to share? I'm not a gifted writer and I don't have deep insights or any special niche to share with others! Who would even read my blog?
But, as I continued to list my arguments over the days to come, God continued to lay it on my heart to do this! So, here goes. We'll see where God takes it and how He uses it, but I am taking the first step of obedience!
I hope to share with you things that the Lord is teaching me, my family life and ideas and tips on saving money by couponing and making homemade items, etc.
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